Life with Twins

I can’t wait until they can do this on their own! They really do seem to like it, though!!

Or maybe they just like sucking the toothpaste off the brush 😉

…and for those of you wondering about the “brusha, brusha, brusha” title, it’s from the Ipana Toothpaste commercials created for Bristol Meyers Company in the 1950s, and starring none other than Bucky Beaver…

You may also remember this commercial making a cameo in the 1978 movie, Grease (it was during the slumber party at Frenchie’s house, and Jan sang along to it, remember?)

You can find one of Bucky’s commercials here, and the Grease clip here.

This weekend we took off for South Florida to visit some of Cindy’s family. Although we had originally planned on leaving early Thursday morning, we considered ourselves very fortunate to be backing out of the driveway at 11 a.m. Wednesday night was a nightmare challenge because Adam was being a butt teething, and we didn’t get much packing done. Anyway, the trip went pretty well, and although the boys had their moments, the 10-hour drive ended without incident.

The boys had a great time, and just loved all the attention they were getting. First, they met their “Poppy” (Cindy’s stepdad) who met us at the hotel with a couple Coronas in hand. I guess he knew after a long day traveling with a couple of 6-month-olds, mom and dad could use a beer!

Next they met their Nanny Vera (Cindy’s mom). As you can see they just seemed to hang on every word…

They also got to meet their Auntie GiGi (left), who was much like a second mom to them, and their Uncle Bob. GiGi and Bob made a four-hour drive to be here, and we enjoyed a great Fourth of July barbeque with Bob’s brother Dave! Finally, their Auntie Sharon (right), who is very beautiful, and not at all prissy, came to visit. She was out-of-town when we first arrived, and stopped by the hotel on her way home. Unfortunately, she arrived at dinnertime 😉

All-in-all it was a great trip. The only drawback were the nights in the hotel. After a full day out-and-about, the boys were wired, and it took a while for them to calm down enough to fall off to sleep. This made the evenings a pain in the ass little trying, but once they fell asleep, they were out for the night. Tomorrow morning, we’ll be up early (hopefully) and heading home.

Today was “shot day” for the boys. Today’s vaccinations include oral polio, Hib, HepB, and Rotavirus. A necessary evil, of course, but we’re not looking forward to the next couple of days. Last time they didn’t do too well, especially Alex, who spiked a 102° and was generally feeling pukey for two days. Anyway, we arrived at the immunization clinic just before they reopened after lunch, so we spent a few minutes exploring the hallway and pushing the stroller around making the obligatory race car noises that seem to amuse a child of any age. We checked-in and a few minutes later, the tears were gone and twins were vaccinated. The exercise was certainly more traumatic for the parents than the bambinos.

After the shots, we went to Ruby Tuesday’s for lunch. Let me rephrase that: “We went to Ruby Tuesday’s to feed the kids their lunch.” It was actually pretty funny. The restaurant was practically empty. There were 5 or 6 tables with customers eating, and wouldn’t you know it, the waitress seats us right-smack-dab-in-the-middle of all these people. It was a bit cramped, and I’m sure more than a little annoying to the businesswomen sitting just inches away from Alex’s bulky sling chair. It sounded like this was a working lunch for them, and Alex just couldn’t help, evidently, giving them some advise on raising next quarters sales revenue (he was so loud, he had to be talking to someone at another table).

So, we’re already mixing their cereal and bottles when the waitress comes to take our order: crab cakes for me, and those mini-hamburgers for Cindy, and two salad bars. We also ordered some chips and guacamole that arrived as we were feeding the boys their cereal. Our meals arrived as we were feeding the kids their bottles. I ate left-handed, as my dominate hand was otherwise occupied holding Alex’s bottle. Cindy had a better time of it because Adam is able to hold his own bottle now (although he wasn’t too interested in holding it in the restaurant). After the bottles we had our salads, then packed-up to go feeling a bit rushed after the experience. At least I did…Cindy and our nanny, Miss Hannah, do this all the time!

The boys are 6-months old now, and are much easier to manage solo these days. In fact, Cindy is on her own with the babies most of the week. Instead of their nanny, Miss Hannah, coming over every day, she only comes a couple of days a week and Friday night–date night. On date night, Hannah arrives about 5:30 pm, and gives Cindy and I a night out on our own. Last night, we met some friends for dinner at Ruby Tuesday’s and took in a movie, “The Hangover” (which was hilarious, by the way!). We had a great time, despite a little mishap just before Hannah arrived. Alex and Adam were playing on the bed in the master bedroom, and Cindy and I were getting ready. Both of us thought the other was watching the kids when Alex, who is beginning to motor everywhere, rolled off the edge of the bed. Luckily, babies bounce! Anyway, he squealed for a bit in his mother’s arms, but was otherwise okay. And wouldn’t ya know it, we set him back on the bed, and he takes off for the edge again (this time he didn’t make it! :-)).

We returned home about 10:30 pm to a “non-eventful” report from Hannah, although Adam, it seems, stayed up a little later than he normally does (ordinarily, both kids are asleep by 8, but this night, Adam was up ’till about 9). No problem. We talked for a bit with Hannah, and she took-off for home. Cindy and I had a drink over conversation, and retired about 12:30 am. Then…

** FLASHBACK **

The boys are one-month old and waking up every couple of hours, which Adam did last night! At 1:30, 3:30 and 5:00, Adam was awake. First, he just needed his “passy,” so it only took a minute or two to get him back off to sleep. The next time required a small bottle and some rocking, which lasted a bit longer. The third time, Adam brought his brother into the act, and both required diaper changes and some cuddling. Anyway, the night was pretty much shot, and neither Cindy nor I got much sleep.

Now, it’s almost 9:00 pm, and the boys have been asleep for about an 1-1/2 hours. Cindy and I are getting ready for bed. Hopefully, the boys, Adam especially, have a good night sleep.

With our pending move to Italy in August, I decided to sell my Mustang. I coulda shipped it over for a couple grand, but alas, it’d be a little cramped for Cindy and the boys! So we’re taking the family truckster (Honda Odyssey), instead. After all, parents must be practical, right? (sarcasm intended) Of course, I coulda put it in storage, but coming back to it after three years just wasn’t too appealing. So, I listed it on eBay, and it sold in a couple of weeks. Not bad.

So, before the buyer came to pick it up, I dropped the top and took the boys crusin’ for chicks along the beach…

On the road again, and on our way back home to Mississippi. We got off about 8 a.m., and made real good time. We stopped about 1 p.m. in Buford, Georgia, and fed the kids/ate lunch in the Mall of Georgia. We made it through Atlanta without hitting the rush-hour traffic, but we did slow considerably behind the construction traffic. (sigh)

Still, it wasn’t too bad. After all, we had planned on staying the night in Montgomery, Alabama, so Alex and Adam could meet their brothers, Nick and Neil, and Jess and Kameran could visit…